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Red-tape scuttles S.R.K. show in aid of N.C.P.E.D.P’s National Campaign for Barrier-Free India - Volume 3 Issue 18: Disability News and Information Service for India

Red-tape scuttles S.R.K. show in aid of N.C.P.E.D.P’s National Campaign for Barrier-Free India

D.N.I.S. News Network - With barely three days to go, the mega show by reigning king of Bollywood Shah Rukh Khan, Temptations 2005, scheduled for 17 September 2005 has been cancelled, all because the Delhi Police has refused to give a go ahead on the pretext of “law and order problems”.

The Executive Director of National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (N.C.P.E.D.P.), Javed Abidi, said in Press Statement that “The plague of bureaucratic red-tapism that has gripped the National Capital has finally, and most unfortunately, managed to choke an opportunity of a once in a lifetime show.”

This is nothing short of a tragedy for thousands S.R.K. fans and Delhiites who were eagerly awaiting the super star’s home coming. It is also a huge setback to National Campaign for a Barrier-Free India launched by N.C.P.E.D.P. on 15 August 2005.

Detailing the frustrating engagement with authorities, he said: “We had always wanted to hold the show inside the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (J.N.S.). However, we were told that it does not have the N.O.C. from the Delhi Fire Service (D.F.S.). Apparently, the D.F.S. issues conditional/ provisional N.O.C.s when it wants to. The latest case in point is the Queen’s Baton Relay being held at the Dhyan Chand National Stadium today! If D.F.S. can give a conditional N.O.C. for one event at one stadium, then why not for another event at another stadium?”

“However, with the time running out and the blame game between the J.N.S. and D.F.S. continuing unabated, we sought permission from the Ministry of Urban Development for the land outside the J.N.S. (next to the flyover). We received all the necessary permissions, from venue to fire safety to entertainment tax to electrical. However, the Delhi Police suddenly raised an objection and claimed that holding the concert in an open area will not be safe from a law and order perspective,” he added.

Regretting the cancellation of the show he said: “As an N.G.O., we feel accountable for the sense of dismay this may cause to people of Delhi. We regret the inconvenience that this development will cause to ordinary citizens of Delhi and not to mention S.R.K. who was most excited about performing in front of a home crowd and associate with the cause of disability in general and access for disabled people in particular.”